Government has approved the use of ivermectin to treat Covid-19 in a move that may go a long way in offsetting the current third wave.

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) said in a statement, “the secretary for health and child care has authorised the MCAZ to authorise the importation and use of ivermectin for Covid-19.

“MCAZ will issue bulk section 75 approvals for importation of human formulations of ivermectin manufactured by compliant facilities.”

Ivermectin has already been proved to be an effective treatment for Covid if administered early to victims.

However, its use has remained reduced and debatable.

Some sections have accused big pharmaceutical companies of underplaying its potency against Covid in a bid to advance the commercial interests of vaccines.

A significant body of peer-reviewed evidence has  emerged showing that Ivermectin may decrease the case counts and mortality rates when used as a prophylactic agent.

At least 747 000 people in the country have so far taken at least one dose of vaccine.

This has however, not been enough to stop the on-going third wave.

This has resulted in the current lockdown measures in large parts of Mashonaland West.

Last week the country received half a million more vaccines from China as part of the expected 2.5 million Sinopharm doses.

The government has set a target of achieving herd immunity by year-end with a target of at least 60% of the population vaccinated.

-Open Council